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Kristy Finch
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First Bank Announces Retirement of CEO Shelley Seifert at the End of This Year,
Mikel Williamson Named Successor
ST. LOUIS – June 29, 2023 – First Bank CEO Shelley Seifert will retire at the end of the year after nine years with First Bank, the bank of choice for family-owned businesses. Mikel Williamson, an industry veteran, will join First Bank as president and her successor.
Seifert joined First Bank in 2014 and became CEO in May 2019. She informed the board of directors in late 2022 of her plans to retire. After an extensive search, the board selected Williamson to succeed her. Over the coming months, First Bank will work to transition Williamson into his new leadership role.
“I believe in the importance and vitality of regional banks, and First Bank is one of the strongest in the country,” said Williamson. “Shelley has positioned the bank for continued growth, and I am excited to collaborate with this team to build upon our unique and valuable offering.”
Williamson served as President and CEO of Happy State Bank & Trust before its sale in 2022 and stayed on after the merger to oversee the bank’s Texas market, representing approximately $6 billion in assets and over 60 locations in more than 40 communities across the state. Prior to his 10-year stint at Happy State, Williamson had a variety of senior roles at Capital One, J.P. Morgan, and Bank of America.
“Mikel is a proven leader and the perfect person to succeed Shelley,” said Michael Dierberg, chairman, FB Corporation. “He has demonstrated success as a CEO and fostering growth through a strong culture and continuous improvement to serve clients. He shares our passion for making a difference in our communities and building our capabilities and team to serve family-owned and other privately held businesses, their executives, employees, and families.”
Seifert’s accomplishments include refining the bank’s vision and strategic plan, building a strong operating and technology foundation for growth, enhancing services for family-owned businesses, and building a strong team.
“I am immensely grateful for the opportunities I have had at First Bank. It is a special place filled with talented and dedicated team members. The team and the Dierberg family are committed to making a difference in the lives of our clients, communities, and each other,” said Seifert. “Leading the bank is an exciting and rewarding role. I am delighted that Mikel has joined us to continue the bank’s legacy. He is a terrific banker, a talented leader, and well-positioned to meet the opportunities that lie ahead.”
Seifert first served as executive vice president and chief administrative officer and was promoted to COO in August 2015. Prior to her position at First Bank, Seifert served as executive vice president of integrations and operations at PNC Financial Services in Pittsburgh.
“Our bank, team members and family-owned business clients have greatly benefited from Shelley’s leadership as she provided clarity of vision, direction, and alignment throughout our organization,” said Dierberg. “She’s built an exceptional team and a scalable and frictionless infrastructure that provides a firm foundation for continued growth of the organization. We are indebted to Shelley’s leadership and look forward to the years ahead with Mikel as her successor.”
Williamson and his family are relocating to St. Louis, home of First Bank’s headquarters.
About First Bank
First Bank, a subsidiary of FB Corporation, is one of the leading privately owned banks in the country. As a family-owned business with four generations of independent, single-family ownership, First Bank offers the stability and experience with long-term planning that helps businesses and the communities in which they operate grow and thrive. With $6.6 billion in assets and 79 locations throughout California, Missouri and Illinois, First Bank has developed a relationship-driven approach to offer comprehensive solutions for clients in commercial and consumer banking, wealth management, mortgage banking and more.